Self-service terminal

ABSTRACT

An Automated Teller Machine, ATM. Persons with physical disabilities sometimes have difficulty negotiating an ATM. Under the invention, two persons are involved in an ATM transaction. One person is equipped with a communicator, such as a cell phone, which contacts an ATM. That person enters necessary transaction data, such as a PIN, a desired cash amount, and so on, using the cell phone. The other person collects the cash dispensed, and any documents, at the ATM itself. This approach eliminates a need for one person to entrust an ATM card and PIN to another person. In another embodiment, the person located at the ATM was previously given a token or passcard by the customer. That person presents the token to the ATM, which prompts the ATM to call the cell phone of the customer, thereby initiating the transaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-service terminal (SST) and to amethod of operating an SST. In particular, the invention relates to anautomated teller machine (ATM), and to a method of operating an ATM.

ATMs provide users with a convenient source of cash in an unattendedenvironment. However, to benefit from this convenience a user must beable physically to access an ATM, and must also be able to input datarequested by the ATM such as a personal identification number (PIN), anamount of cash to be withdrawn, and such like data. As a result, certainpeople are not able to use ATMs, for example, because they are confinedto a home, because they have a visual impairment, because an ATM islocated in an area that is not physically accessible for them, or suchlike reason.

To overcome this problem, some people entrust their ATM card and PIN toa third party for conducting transactions on their behalf; but this isundesirable because it may lead to fraud, for example, if the thirdparty withdraws more money than they are asked to withdraw, or if thethird party makes unauthorized withdrawals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is among the objects of an embodiment of the present invention toobviate or mitigate one or more of the above disadvantages, or otherdisadvantages associated with conventional SSTs.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided aself-service terminal having a user interface including means foridentifying a user, characterized in that the terminal includes meansfor obtaining contact information for a communications device associatedwith a user; and contact means for establishing a link with thecommunications device to allow a transaction to be entered thereby.

Preferably, an entire transaction is entered using the communicationsdevice, where an entire transaction includes entry of an identification,such as a PIN, and entry of transaction data, such as an amount of moneyto be withdrawn.

The communications device is retained by a user, and is used as analternative to any input device on the SST, such as a keypad,touchscreen, function display keys (FDKs), or such like. Thus, thecommunications device is used as an alternative input means.

In one embodiment, the communications device is located remotely fromthe SST during a transaction. This allows a person (“the user”) to entera transaction at a remote location while another person, who is locatedat the SST, receives any item dispensed from the SST as a result of thetransaction entered by the user.

By virtue of this embodiment of the invention an account holder (“theuser”) who is unable to access or use an ATM is able to provide a thirdparty with a token that the third party presents to the ATM. The accountholder (“the user”) is contacted by the ATM when a transaction is to beentered. The account holder can then enter a security code (such as aPIN) and transaction details (such as withdraw twenty pounds sterling).This enables an account holder to allow a third party to collect moneyor other media from their account using an ATM, without having todivulge a PIN or other security code to the third party, therebyminimizing the potential for abuse of trust.

In another embodiment, the communications device is located locally atthe SST during a transaction so that the person who operates thecommunications device (“the user”) is the person who receives any itemdispensed from the SST as a result of the transaction.

By virtue of this embodiment of the invention, a self-service terminalis operable to identify a user and to dial a user's telephone so thatthe user can enter a transaction using the telephone rather than theterminal's user interface. One advantage of this embodiment of theinvention is that the user does not have to determine the telephonenumber of the SST, because the SST calls the user's communicationsdevice once the user has been identified. For a visually-impaired userwho has no difficulty in physically accessing an SST, this obviates anyrequirement for a third party to assist with a transaction.

It will be appreciated that “the user” referred to herein is the personwho operates the communications device, not necessarily the person whois located at the SST.

Preferably, the communications device is in the form of a telephone,such as a cellular telephone (for use in entering a transaction eitherlocally at an SST or remotely from an SST) or a landline telephone (foruse in entering a transaction remotely from an SST). Alternatively, thecommunications device is in the form of a computing device having amodem. Typical computing devices include a personal computer (PC), apocket computer, a personal digital assistant, and such like.

Preferably, the means for identifying a user comprises a module (such asa card reader) for receiving a physical identification token (a claimedidentity), which is used in conjunction with an identity verifier, suchas a personal identification number (PIN). Suitable card readers includea magnetic stripe card reader and a smart card reader. Otheridentification tokens may be used, such as a smart ring, smart button,personal digital assistant, or cellular telephone. Alternatively, inembodiments where the user is always located in the vicinity of the SST,the means for identifying a user may comprise a recognition module (suchas a biometrics unit) for receiving a token derived from part of auser's body. Suitable biometrics units include a human iris recognitionunit, a fingerprint sensing unit, a facial recognition unit, a voicerecognition unit, and such like.

The means for obtaining contact information for a communications deviceassociated with a user may be implemented by a controller accessing adatabase of stored telephone numbers. Alternatively, the telephonenumber may be retrieved from a user identification token (for example,the telephone number may be stored on a user's card), so the means forobtaining contact information may be implemented by a token reader (suchas a card reader).

The database stores a user identifier and a telephone number or numbersassociated with that user. Where more than one telephone number isstored, an algorithm or rules engine may be used to determine whichnumber is to be called, or the numbers may be called in a predeterminedorder or in an order determined by the rules engine.

The database may be stored on the SST, partially on the SST (forexample, in a distributed storage arrangement), or in a remoterepository.

The contact means may contact the communications device directly, forexample, by dialing a telephone number associated with thecommunications device. Alternatively, the contact means may contact thecommunications device indirectly, for example, by requesting a remotecenter to contact the communications device. The remote center may be atransaction host.

The contact means may be implemented by a transceiver, such as acellular radio-frequency transceiver.

The self-service terminal may be an ATM.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda method of operating a self-service terminal having a user interface,the method including the step of identifying a user, and beingcharacterized by the further steps of: obtaining contact information fora communications device associated with the identified user, andestablishing a telecommunications link with the communications device sothat a transaction may be entered via the link.

The step of identifying a user is preferably implemented by receiving anidentity token. An identity verifier, such as a PIN or code, may berequested by the terminal after the link has been established so thatthe person presenting the claimed identity does not need to be aware ofthe identity verifier.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided aself-service terminal system comprising a host and at least oneself-service terminal, each terminal having a user interface includingtransaction entry means and means for identifying a user, characterizedin that the system includes means for obtaining contact information fora communications device associated with a user, and contact means forcontacting the communications device to allow a transaction to beentered thereby.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provideda self-service terminal for visually impaired users, the terminalcomprising means for identifying a user, and means for contacting acommunications device associated with that user, whereby a user mayoperate the terminal using the communications device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided aself-service terminal having a user interface including transactionentry means and a token reader for reading an identification token,characterized in that the terminal is operable to read a tokenindicating that a transaction is to be entered using remote entry means,and includes contact means for contacting the remote entry means toallow a transaction to be entered thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following specific description, given by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a self-service terminal system according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of one of the terminals of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of the architecture of the terminalof FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 a to 4 d illustrate screens presented to a person located at oneof the terminals of FIG. 1 during a transaction;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a self-service terminal system according toanother embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of the architecture of the terminalof FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of aself-service terminal system 10 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. The system 10 is owned and operated by a financialinstitution and comprises a host 12 interconnected to a plurality ofSSTs 14 (only two, 14 a and 14 b, are shown) by a secure network 16. TheSSTs 14 are ATMs. The host 12 includes a communication interface 17, anauthorization facility 18 and a back-office facility 20.

The authorization facility 18 authorizes transaction requests receivedfrom ATMs via the network 16. The authorization facility 18 alsoauthorizes transaction requests received from Point of Sale terminals(not shown) and other ATM networks (not shown).

The back-office facility 20 maintains records for every accountmaintained by the financial institution. Each record includes a list ofall the transactions executed relating to that account. Typicaltransactions include: direct credits, direct debits, checks, cashwithdrawals, and such like. The back-office facility 20 provides(typically on a daily basis) the transaction authorization facility 18with account information for each account maintained by the financialinstitution.

The ATMs 14 are physically remote from each other, but are shown inproximity in FIG. 1 for clarity. FIG. 1 also shows a remote entry means21 (also referred to herein as a communications device) in the form of acellular telephone which can be accessed by the communication interface17, as described in more detail below.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of one ofthe ATMs 14 of FIG. 1. Each ATM 14 has a user interface 22 locatedwithin a molded fascia 24. The user interface 22 comprises: a display26, local entry means 28 in the form of an encrypting keypad, a cashdispense slot 30, a card entry/exit slot 32, and a receipt slot 34.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a simplified block diagram ofthe architecture of the terminal of FIG. 2. A system bus (or a pluralityof system buses) 36 interconnects various modules in an ATM controller40 to allow mutual intercommunication, as will be described in moredetail below.

User associated modules 42 comprise the following elements (peripheraldevices): a token reader 50 in the form of a card reader, the display26, the encrypting keypad module 28, a printer 56, and a cash dispenser58. Some of these user associated modules 42 are part of the userinterface 22 (such as the display 26 and the keypad 28), other userassociated modules 42 are associated with the user interface 22 (such asthe card reader 50, which is associated with, and located rearwardly of,the card entry/exit slot 32).

The controller 40 comprises modules for driving the user interfaceelements, namely: card reader controller 60, display controller 62,keypad controller 64, printer controller 66, and dispenser controller68. These user associated modules (26, 28, 50, 56, and 58) andassociated controllers (60 to 68) are standard modules that are used inconventional ATMs and will not be described in detail herein.

The controller 40 also comprises a BIOS 70 stored in non-volatilememory, a microprocessor 72, associated main memory 74, storage space 76in the form of a magnetic disk drive, and a dedicated network connection78 for connecting the ATM 14 to the transaction host 12 (FIG. 1) via thenetwork 16.

In use, the main memory 74 is loaded with an ATM operating system kernel80, and an ATM application 82. As is well known in the art, theoperating system kernel 80 is responsible for memory, process, task, anddisk management. The ATM application 82 is responsible for controllingthe operation of the ATM 14, including: presenting screens on the ATMdisplay 26, receiving data read by the card reader 50, preparingtransaction requests for sending to the host 12 via the networkconnection 78, and receiving responses and commands from the host 12 viathe network connection 78.

The term “screen” is used herein to denote the graphics, text, controls(such as menu options), and such like, that are displayed on an ATMmonitor; the term “screen” as used herein does not refer to the hardware(that is, the monitor) that displays the graphics, text, controls, andsuch like.

If a person is unable to use an ATM or experiences difficulty in usingan ATM, for example because of mobility problems or visual impairment,then that person provides the financial institution with a contacttelephone number to be used during a transaction. The institution thenissues that person (the account holder, also referred to herein as “theuser”) with a magnetic stripe card that stores a contact telephonenumber in addition to conventional details about the account holder andthe account. The contact telephone number is the telephone number of theaccount holder's cellular telephone 21.

TWO PERSON TRANSACTION EXAMPLE

One example of a typical transaction at one of the ATMs 14 will now begiven with reference to FIGS. 4 a to 4 d. In this example, the accountholder wishes to withdraw cash from an ATM, and gives the card to atrusted third party, for example a friend or relative. Thus, in thisexample, the person entering transaction details is located remotelyfrom the ATM 14, and a trusted third party is used to initiate thetransaction at the ATM 14.

Initially, the third party approaches an ATM 14 displaying screen 100(FIG. 4 a) and inserts the card. The card reader 50 reads the magneticstripe on the card and conveys the read details to the ATM application82 via the card reader controller 60 and the bus 36. The ATM application82 analyses these details and determines that the magnetic stripe storesa telephone number in addition to account details (for example, name ofaccount, number of account, and such like).

The ATM application 82 displays screen 102 (FIG. 4 b) to inform theperson located at the ATM (in this example, the third party) that thetransaction will be entered using a remote entry device (that is, notusing the ATM's user interface 22).

The ATM application 82 then uses network connection 78 to convey a fileincluding account details and the telephone number to the communicationinterface 17 in host 12. The communication interface 17 receives thisfile and automatically dials the telephone number and activates an audioand/or visual interface. This embodiment uses an audio interface havingrecorded messages and selectable options associated with numbers so thata user can select an option by depressing a number on the telephonekeypad.

When the account holder answers this telephone call at the cellulartelephone 21, then the account holder is first asked (by the audiointerface) to enter a secure code. The secure code may be the accountholder's PIN, or it may be another code (referred to herein as an accesscode). The access code may be a subset of a longer code. For example,the account holder may be asked to enter the second, fourth, and fifthdigits/letters of their access code. This may be used to improvesecurity in case a fraudster attempts to eavesdrop or intercept a codeas it is being entered by the account holder.

Once the account holder has entered the secure code, a transaction menuis then recited to the account holder. The transaction menu may includeoptions such as: bill payment, cash withdrawal, transfer funds betweenaccounts, and such like.

In this example, the account holder selects the cash withdrawal option,using either speech or a button on the telephone 21.

A cash withdrawal menu is then recited to the account holder. Theaccount holder enters the amount of cash to be withdrawn. A confirmationmenu may also be recited to allow the account holder to confirm thetransaction details.

The communication interface 17 then combines the transaction details andcode entered by the account holder with the account details conveyedform the ATM 14 into a single transaction request file and sends thetransaction request file to the authorization facility 18 forauthorizing.

If the transaction request is authorized then the host 12 notifies theATM 14 and the ATM application 82 presents a screen 104 (FIG. 4 c) tothe person located at the ATM (in this example, the trusted third party)to inform him/her to remove the card because cash is about to bedispensed.

The communication interface 17 may also inform the account holder viacellular telephone 21 that the transaction has been executed and thatcash has been dispensed.

If the transaction request is not authorized, for example, because thesecure code was incorrect or because adequate funds are not available,then the ATM application 82 presents a screen 106 (FIG. 4 d) to thetrusted third party to inform him/her that the transaction was notauthorized.

The communication interface 17 may also inform the account holder viacellular telephone 21 that the transaction has not been authorized.

It will be appreciated that this embodiment has the advantage that anaccount holder can execute a transaction at an ATM without having to bepresent at the ATM, and without having to divulge their PIN or othersecure code to enable the transaction to be executed, thereby reducingthe possibility of fraud. It will also be appreciated that thisembodiment has the advantage that an account holder can control atransaction in real time even though the account holder is locatedremotely from a terminal that fulfils the transaction.

It will also be appreciated that in the above embodiment the means forobtaining contact information for a communications device and the meansfor identifying a user are both implemented by the card reader 50 inconjunction with the card reader controller 60 and the ATM application82.

ONE PERSON TRANSACTION EXAMPLE

Another example of a typical transaction at one of the ATMs 14 will nowbe given. In this example, the person conducting a transaction islocated in the immediate vicinity of the ATM 14, and initiates thetransaction at the ATM 14 by inserting the card.

The transaction proceeds in the same way as the above example, the onlydifferences being that the account holder is present at the ATM, and theaccount holder removes the withdrawn cash.

Second Embodiment

Another embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIG. 5, which is a block diagram of a self-service terminalsystem 210 according to another embodiment of the present invention; andalso with reference to FIG. 6, which is a simplified block diagram ofthe architecture of the terminal of FIG. 5.

The system 210 is owned and operated by a financial institution andcomprises a host 212 interconnected to a plurality of SSTs 214 (onlytwo, 214 a and 214 b, are shown) by a secure network 16. The SSTs 214are ATMs. The host 212 includes an authorization facility 18 and aback-office facility 20.

The ATMs 214 are similar to ATMs 14; but the ATM controller 240 in ATMs214 is slightly different to the ATM controller 40 in ATMs 14. Inparticular, ATM controller 240 includes contact means 217 in the form ofa transceiver, and a modified ATM application 282.

In this embodiment, an ATM 214 communicates directly with acommunications device 21 rather than via the communication interface 17.This is accomplished by the transceiver 217 dialing (under control ofthe ATM application 282) the communications device 21 and conveying databetween the ATM application 282 and the communications device 21. Whenthe ATM application 282 has received from the communications device 21all data required for a transaction, the ATM application 282 obtainsauthorization for the transaction from the remote host 212 in aconventional manner.

In a similar way as for the previous embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 4D), thisembodiment can be used by an account holder who is present at the ATMduring a transaction (the one person transaction example), or by anaccount holder who is remote from the ATM during a transaction (the twoperson transaction example).

Various modifications may be made to the above described embodimentswithin the scope of the invention, for example, the communicationsdevice 21 may include an encryption unit for increased security. Inother embodiments, the ATM application 82 or 282 may present the trustedthird party with advertisements during the delay introduced by theaccount holder entering a transaction. In other embodiments, the personentering the transaction may be enabled to stop presentation of screensat the ATM while a transaction is being entered and executed. In otherembodiments, the SST may be a non-cash kiosk.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Automated Teller Machine, ATM, comprising: auser interface including means for identifying an account of a userremote from the ATM from account identification information provided byanother user at the ATM on behalf of the user remote from the ATM; meansfor obtaining contact information which enables the ATM to contact acommunications device associated with the user remote from the ATM; andcontact means for establishing a link with the communications device toallow the user remote from the ATM to execute a transaction using thecommunications device.
 2. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein themeans for obtaining contact information includes means for retrieving atelephone number of the communications device.
 3. A terminal accordingto claim 1, wherein the contact means contacts the communications devicedirectly.
 4. A terminal according to claim 1, wherein the contact meansrequests a remote transceiver to establish a link with thecommunications device.
 5. An Automated Teller Machine, ATM, comprising:a user interface including means for identifying an account of a userremote from the ATM, the identifying means including a card reader forreading a card of the user presented to the card reader by another userat the ATM; means for obtaining telephone number for a telephoneassociated with the user remote from the ATM; and contact means forestablishing a link with the telephone to allow the user remote from theATM to execute a transaction using the telephone.
 6. An automated tellermachine (ATM) comprising: a user interface including means foridentifying an account of an ATM customer remote from the ATM fromaccount identification information provided by a user at the ATM onbehalf of the ATM customer remote from the ATM; a cash dispenser fordispensing cash; means for obtaining contact information which enablesthe ATM to contact a communications device associated with the ATMcustomer remote from the ATM; means for establishing a link with thecommunications device based upon the obtained contact information toallow the ATM customer to enter an ATM transaction; and means forcontrolling the cash dispenser to dispense cash to the user at the ATMwhen the entered ATM transaction requires cash to be dispensed.
 7. AnATM according to claim 6, wherein the means for obtaining contactinformation includes means for retrieving data relating to a telephonenumber to be called to establish a link with the communications deviceassociated with the ATM customer.
 8. An ATM according to claim 6,wherein the contact means includes means for directly contacting thecommunications device associated with the ATM customer.
 9. An ATMaccording to claim 6, wherein the contact means includes means forrequesting a remote transceiver to establish a link with thecommunications device associated with the ATM customer.
 10. An automatedteller machine (ATM) comprising: a user interface including means foridentifying an account of an ATM customer remote from the ATM, theidentifying means including a card reader for reading a card of the ATMcustomer presented to the card reader by a user at the ATM; a cashdispenser for dispensing cash; means for obtaining a telephone numberfor a telephone associated with the ATM customer remote from the ATM;means for establishing a link with the telephone based upon the obtainedtelephone number to allow the ATM customer to enter an ATM transaction;and means for controlling the cash dispenser to dispense cash to theuser at the ATM when the entered ATM transaction requires cash to bedispensed.
 11. A system of Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, comprising:a host; a group of ATMs, each having a user interface includingtransaction entry means and means for identifying an account of a userremote from the ATM, the identifying means including a card reader forreading a card of the user presented to the card reader by another userat the ATM; means for obtaining contact information which enables an ATMto contact a communications device associated with the user remote fromthe ATM; and contact means for contacting the communications device toallow the user remote from the ATM to execute a transaction using thecommunications device.
 12. A method of operating an Automated TellerMachine, ATM, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving accountidentification information associated with an account of a user remotefrom the ATM, the account identification information presented byanother user at the ATM on behalf of the user remote from the ATM; (b)identifying the account of the user remote from the ATM using theaccount identification information; (c) obtaining contact informationwhich enables the ATM to contact a communications device associated withthe user remote from the ATM; and (d) establishing a telecommunicationslink with the communications device so that the user remote from the ATMcan execute a transaction via the link.
 13. A method according to claim12, wherein step (c) includes the step of: (c-1) retrieving a telephonenumber to be called to establish a telecommunications link with thecommunications device.
 14. A method according to claim 12, wherein step(d) includes the step of: (d-1) directly establishing atelecommunications link with the communications device.
 15. A methodaccording to claim 12, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d-1)requesting a remote transceiver to establish a telecommunications linkwith the communications device.
 16. A method of operating an automatedteller machine (ATM), the method comprising the steps of: (a) reading acard of an ATM customer remote from the ATM, the card presented by auser at the ATM; (b) identifying an account of the ATM customer remotefrom the ATM; (c) obtaining contact information which enables the ATM tocontact a communications device associated with the ATM customer remotefrom the ATM; and (d) establishing a link with the communications deviceassociated with the ATM customer remote from the ATM to allow the ATMcustomer to enter a transaction.
 17. A method according to claim 16,wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d-1) directly establishing thelink with the communications device associated with the ATM customer.18. A method according to claim 16, wherein step (d) includes the stepof: (d-1) requesting a remote transceiver to establish the link with thecommunications device associated with the ATM customer.
 19. A methodaccording to claim 16, further comprising: (e) receiving a PersonalIdentification Number, PIN, associated with the account and entered bythe ATM customer from the communications device prior to allowing theATM customer to enter the transaction.